Here is the next chapter of Kitsune Brothers

"Speech"

'Thought'

"Demon/summon/demon influenced speech"

'Demon/summon thought'

Jutsu

Nicknames

I don't own Naruto period end of story


Let the Finals…Begin

It was finally the day of the finals as crowds gathered in the stadium where the final matches would be fought. There was excitement in the air as everyone, civilians and ninja alike chattered noisily as foreign dignitaries took their places amongst the crowds. Among the competitors nerves started acting up as everyone fidgeted around uncomfortable with the ever growing crowds… "ZZZZZZZZZZZZ" the mood was broken as loud snoring drifted into the competitors' ears.

Hayate narrowed his eyes as he stared at the sleeping form of Naruto "Kazama wake up." He ordered only getting a minor stir out of the blonde. Palming his face he channeled some chakra into his throat and shouted "WAKE UP!" Naruto, startled by the sudden noise fell over in shock causing a large round of laughter to flitter through the stadium. "Now that sleeping beauty is awake I'll lay down the ground rules." Hayate stated as he swept his gaze over each of the contestants. "Like the prelims there are no rules to the fight, you fight until one of you is knocked out, dead, or I say to stop get it?" he asked through a series of loud coughs. "Make sure to show us everything you're in front of foreign dignitaries from all over the nations."

The contestants gazed around only now noticing the growing crowd "Wow…" Ino mumbled shocked "There's this many people?" she asked slowly gaining a nod from the sickly Jounin.

"Will everyone but Kazama Naruto and Inuzuka Kiba please head up to the waiting deck?" he asked politely. Turning towards the audience as the contestants followed the command he channeled Chakra into his throat once more "Ladies and Gentlemen the finals of the Chuunin Exams are about to begin, those of you still getting seated hurry up and do so as our first to fighters are ready to show you their mettle!" turning back to the two he nodded and raised his arm. "Inuzuka Kiba VS Kazama Naruto…BEGIN!" he shouted as he jumped out of the way.

Kiba wasted no time as he charged forward Akamaru having jumped off his head to get ready. "Here are the results of my training!" he roared as he threw a right hook faster than the civilians in the stand could see. Naruto casually pushed it aside only to quickly put up his other arm as Kiba twisted with the redirection and launched a round house at his stomach. Pushing off the ground with his grounded leg Kiba jumped over Naruto and used his claw like hands to swipe at the Blonde's face.

Naruto growled seeing the strike coming as he lashed out with his foot only to be forced to jump away as Kiba easily twisted around it in order to go for a horizontal swipe at his stomach. "I see you were taught how to continuously attack." He stated as Kiba stared at him.

"Yeah." The dog user stated as he pulled out a pill and tossed it to the side, into Akamaru's waiting mouth. "Juujin Bunshin" he muttered as Akamaru transformed into an exact replica of Kiba. "Now then…" Kiba began as Akamaru stretched his body. "Let's go wild." Suddenly both Kibas charged and worked in tandem to attack the blonde haired demon. When Akamaru would attack low Kiba would attack high and vice versa as they both easily twisted around Naruto's counters yet unable to touch him.

Naruto eventually managed to grab them both by the wrists and launched them away from him embedding them into the nearest wall. "Enough of this…" Naruto muttered as his hands blurred "Katon: Goukakyuu no Jutsu!" A massive fireball burst forth and moved to consume the still Inuzuka.

Kiba grinned as he pried himself from the wall noting that Akamaru had done so as well. "Ready buddy?" he asked as he started to spin "Gatsuuga!" with a battle cry, Kiba and Akamaru launched themselves at Naruto who grinned as he held his ground. "It's over!" Kiba shouted just as they were about to make contact.

"You're right it is over." Naruto stated as he casually grabbed their wrists despite their rotations as he started to spin in place picking up speed as he did. "You're still too hot headed Kiba!" he shouted out loud as he launched the duo into the stands where they landed in a heap among the wreckage of a snow cone stand.

Kiba, who had swirls in his eyes, could only mutter "Look at the world spin~" before collapsing. Hayate nudged him with his foot before shaking his head and jumping back into the center of the ring. "Winner, Kazama Naruto!" The crowd roared in appreciation as Naruto smirked and walked up to the contestant area where the others congratulated him.

"Hey…where's the prick?" he asked aloud as he looked around trying to find Sasuke. "He didn't pick up Kakashi's bad habits did he?" he asked as he scratched his cheek.

Kaoru glanced down at Sarutobi who was watching the stadium intently "Hokage-sama…should we disqualify him?" he asked referring to the Uchiha who was missing even though Hayate was calling his name. "The crowd's getting restless."

Sarutobi sighed "I guess I have no choice then." He muttered as he moved to disqualify the last Uchiha.

"Pardon my interruption Hokage-dono, but can't we give him some time?" The 'Kazekage' asked "after all many of the spectators, myself included, came for the sole purpose of seeing him fight."

Sarutobi narrowed his eyes at his former student. 'Just what are you planning Orochimaru?' he thought quietly as he nodded his head in consent. "I see where you are coming from Kazekage-dono." Sarutobi began as he glanced around at the restless crowd. "Alright we'll hold Uchiha Sasuke's match off until later." He stated as he waved off a Chuunin who had come to find out what they were to do.

"Are you sure that's wise?" Kaoru asked without looking away from the field as Hayate nodded his head. "Though the crowd seems happy." He conceded as they cheered for Sasuke's second chance.

"Will Kankuro and Aburame Shino please come down?" Hayate called out between coughs.

"I forfeit!" Kankuro shouted as he raised his hand. 'I'm going to need the chakra for later anyways.' He mused to himself knowing that Otogakure was still planning on attacking the village.

Shino seemed annoyed as he crossed his arms, but otherwise he said nothing. Hayate shrugged as he called out the next contestants. "Yamanaka Ino and Nara Shikamaru please come down!"

Ino quickly made her way down as Shikamaru seemed to hesitate "Fighting Ino would be such a drag…" he muttered as he made to forfeit as well.

"What are you waiting for? Get down there already!" Naruto shouted as he gently pushed Shikamaru forward…and over the railing. Shikamaru flailed as he fell cursing the blonde at the top of his lungs.

"FUCK YOU NARUTO!" he screamed as he landed painfully on the ground. "Ow…my back…"

Ino sweat dropped as she hunched over in concern. "You…alright?" she asked worried for her teammate. "I think he might be injured Gekko-san." She stated turning her attention to the Procter.

"I'm fine…sort of." Shikamaru stated as he stood up wincing the entire time. "I wasn't ready for that." He admitted as he rubbed his back where it was obviously sore.

"Fourth round…Begin!" Hayate shouted as he used shunshin to get out of the way

Ino wasted no time and pulled out a single rose. "I never showed you guys this did I?" she asked calmly as she sniffed the rose.

Shikamaru grunted "No you haven't but I have my suspicions." He stated as he crouched low to the ground and placed his hands in the signature seal of his family.

Ino smirked as she grasped the rose in her hand and swung it at Shikamaru much like a person would swing a whip. "Baramuchi!" she called out as the rose stem extended and nearly struck Shikamaru across the face had he not rolled to avoid the strike and the following ones as Ino continued to lash out at him.

"She knows that I need to maintain the seal in order to use the Kagemane no jutsu." He mused as he avoided the whip with as little effort as he could. "Whereas I have no idea the limitations of her whip…damn it the one time she successfully keeps a secret it's at a time like this." He groused as he tried to retreat into the nearby trees. "She can't risk it in here." He mumbled as he started to think.

Ino frowned as she gauged the situation "Damn I can't risk going into the trees." She muttered as she considered her options. Gaining an idea she smirked "Worth a shot." She mumbled as she slammed her chakra into the ground and willed the trees to do her bidding.

"Gyaah! What the hell!" Shikamaru screamed as he darted away from the trees which were miraculously enough reaching their branches and roots towards him before Ino willed them to return to normal. "Now you can control plants in general?" he screamed looking at Ino.

Ino winked playfully at him. "A girl has got to have a few secrets of her own you know!" she called out playfully. 'Crap that took a lot more than I thought it would' she thought keeping up a confident face to fool Shikamaru into a more cautious approach. "This is the end!" Ino shouted as she lashed out at him again failing to notice his hands in a familiar sign.

Shikamaru smiled as Ino stopped just short of hitting him. "Got you Ino!" he called out as he calmly stood up. "You almost had me but I know your limits I knew you wouldn't be able to keep up after that tree manipulation." He explained as he walked forward causing Ino to do the same.

"So now what Shika?" Ino asked with a grin "You can't make me surrender and there's nothing you can do without risking harm to yourself."

"You sure?" Shikamaru asked as he started making circular motions above his pectorals forcing Ino to do the same with much different results. "You see all I feel is two hands going around in a circle on my chest I'm sure you feel something else."

Ino blushed as the crowd erupted in a round of cheers as the men egged Shikamaru on while the women stared appalled. "You pervert!" she hissed causing him to shrug.

"Whatever works Ino, whatever works." He stated as she grudgingly surrendered.

"I give, I give now stop making me touch myself like this!" she ordered as he stopped. Rearing her hand back she slapped him hard enough to leave a giant red hand print on his face. "Pervert." She shouted as she stormed away.

Shikamaru rubbed his cheek and winced. "I deserved that." He stated lethargically as Hayate pronounced him the winner. "Can I go home now?" he whined as he made to leave the arena.

Hayate grabbed his collar, "you aren't going anywhere." The sickly man stated after another cough. "Temari come down and face your opponent." He called out earning a nod from the sandy blonde.

Opening up her fan she floated down to face the shadow user who slumped his shoulders. "Why me?" he griped as he faced her with his usual enthusiasm…none at all. "So troublesome." He muttered as he stuffed his hands into his pockets with a heavy sigh wishing to be elsewhere.

Temari glared at the Nara heir "You underestimating me?" she hissed taking his lack luster approach as an insult. "Her anger was only fueled by his casual shrug of the shoulders as his shoulders slumped.

"Meh…too much hassle to do something like that." Shikamaru stated with a yawn 'Taking Ino out was more tiresome than I thought.' He mused warily watching the giant fan on Temari's back.

Temari glared at him as she raised her fan and suddenly charged not bothering to wait for the Procter. Shikamaru hastily dodged to the side and quickly brought his hands into the sign for his signature technique. His shadow shot forward like a snake as it winded its way towards Temari who hastily jumped backwards and marked the spot on the ground where the shadow stopped.

"That's your range then." She stated aloud with a victorious smirk. "Now that I know the limit of your reach you'll never catch me with that shadow of yours!" She called out as she launched an attack in Shikamaru's direction.

Grunting Shikamaru dove out of the way and into the cover of the trees using them as cover knowing full well that Temari wouldn't get within his striking distance which she believed she knew. 'With time…with time.' He thought as he placed his hands in an odd shape.

"He's thinking?" Kaoru asked curiously "An odd time to meditate don't you think so Hokage-sama?"

Sarutobi chuckled "He knows she won't take the risk." He stated mirthfully as he folded his arms. "That is her mistake; one should never give a Nara ample time to think."

Temari scowled as she hefted her fan. "If you won't come out…I'll rip the trees out of the ground!" she roared as she waved the mighty fan towards him. "Kamaitachi!" a mighty wind came forth and crashed into the trees with the force of an army of angry woodsmen hacking and slashing their way through a forest. Suddenly a shadow shot forward causing Temari to smirk confident that it would not reach her. Confidence turned to shock as the shadow easily extended past the line on the ground forcing her to jump back and mark the limit again. "Temari in the sky!" she heard her brother shout. Seeing another shadow floating towards the tendril sent a wave of fear into her as she quickly jumped away just as the shadows connected and the tendril shot forward again. "So that's how it works." She muttered as she marked the new limit again noting the jacket and kunai that had been used to make the new shadow.

Shikamaru sighed as he glanced at the sky and smirked. "Perfect." He muttered as he saw his favorite thing floating by. 'The shadow is behind her though…' he mused as he chanced a glance. She was staring at the nest of trees he had hidden in. There was a sudden change in direction of the wind as the cloud which had caught Shikamaru's attention started moving towards Temari. 'What are the odds?' he asked thankful.

However he wasn't the only one to notice the encroaching cloud as Temari stared in horror as it eased its way overhead. "If that thing gets passed me I'm sunk." She hissed angrily as she readied her fan. Swinging in a full circle she summoned forth a great wind in order to distract Shikamaru and blow away the cloud. Smiling seeing the cloud gone she tried to move only to realize in crushing despair that she could not move. "How?" she cried out loud as she felt her body turn towards the side as it began walking towards the Procter no doubt Shikamaru doing the same.

"I used the Kagemane no jutsu as soon as you made the turn the setting sun gave me plenty of shadows or did you forget?" he asked as they both reached Hayate who had jumped back into the arena. Biting back a retort Temari just sulked as she felt Shikamaru raise their arms. "I, Nara Shikamaru forfeit." He declared causing everyone to face vault.

"Well now…that was somewhat expected…" Kaoru stated as Sarutobi shook his head.

Naruto stared slack jawed as Shikamaru just gave up even though he had clearly won. "WHAT THE HELL?" he screamed in shock "Shikamaru what the fuck are you doing?" he shouted down into the arena.

Shikamaru glared up at the blonde. "I'm tired, I'm out of chakra, I'm hungry and either you, Gaara, or Sasuke is next I don't want to continue." He called out causing many to sweat drop.

Hayate scratched his head before coughing. "Uh…Winner Temari!" he called out raising the girl's arm.

Shikamaru was booed out of the arena as he calmly made his way back up to the observation deck where Ino was waiting for him hand on her hip. "What Ino?" he asked bluntly as he calmly walked passed her and towards the nearest bench.

"I can't believe you just gave up even after catching her." she stated just as blunt as he was. "I thought you'd be more motivated about this." She continued ignoring Shikamaru's disgruntled face.

"You sound like my mother." He stated as he lay down on the bench. "I didn't have enough Chakra to do anything else I was running on fumes." He lied smoothly giving her no doubt that what he said was truth.

"Will Sabaku no Gaara and Uchiha Sasuke please come down to the arena?" Hayate called out as he glanced around. He noted Gaara standing there impassively as he looked for the missing Uchiha. "If Uchiha Sasuke does not appear within the count of ten he will be disqualified!" he announced as he began a count down.

Everyone watched anxiously as the sickly man counted down reaching three before a sudden gust appeared in the center of the arena. "Yo! We're not late are we?" Kakashi asked, his hand raised in greeting Sasuke rubbing his own forehead in exasperation.

Hayate's eye twitched in annoyance as everyone in the stands fell over in shock. "You barely made it in time." He stated testily causing the masked man to rub the back of his head sheepishly.

"Um…oops?" he ventured causing Hayate to palm his face as he made a shooing motion. "Kakashi…just go sit in the stands."

Kakashi nodded his head and disappeared in another swirl of leaves. "Kakashi, I can't believe you!" Kurenai scolded the man as he appeared next to her. "Late for the Chuunin exam finals, really!"

Asuma and Gai laughed as Kakashi bowed his head as Kurenai, the rookie Jounin, dressed him down. "Well Kakashi now you know what married life is all about." Asuma stated with a grin causing Kakashi to send him a withering glare.

"You're one to talk 'Suma-chan' if I'm not mistaken you're girlfriend keeps you on a pretty tight leash."

Asuma made a strangled noise as his face flamed in embarrassment. "That's none of your business." He managed as he looked away puffing away on his cancer stick.

Sasuke stared at Gaara impassively as Gaara did the same. "Strange." Gaara stated looking towards the kage box where he knew Kaoru to be. "Until now Shukaku would always demand blood, that I was to kill people…but upon meeting that man…he has become…docile."

Sasuke shifted as the two ignore Hayate announce the beginning of the match. "What do you mean?" he asked as he circled around the stone like Gaara. "What's the Shukaku?"

Gaara turned his head to stare at Sasuke. "Shukaku is the one-tailed Tanuki." He stated as he turned to face Sasuke not liking his back exposed. "Before he would demand blood from my victims but now he encourages me not to kill any Konoha-nin…I wonder why."

Sasuke grunted and charged forward. "HOW WOULD I KNOW?" he shouted as he threw a punch only for the sand to block it easily. Using his newly gained speed Sasuke broke away before the sand could catch him and took a stance eerily similar to Lee's own stance.

Gai narrowed his eyes. "Kakashi…you didn't." he mumbled loud enough for the man to hear him.

Kakashi nodded "I did…the council insisted I do so." He stated as he turned back towards Sasuke. "I also told him not to use it in the matches. We're about to see how well he can listen to his sensei."

Gaara stared impassively as Sasuke's attacks bounced all over his shield "Almost as fast as the other one." He muttered as he sent a tendril of sand at Sasuke. "Useless." He stated seeing Sasuke launch a few kunai at him.

Sasuke grunted as he saw the kunai embed themselves into the sand. "Tch, let's see you handle this." He muttered as he concentrated on the kunai in his hand. "This has no name but it should work wonders against an earth type of ability like yours." He stated as electrical sparks started forming along the blade. Slowly the blade extended as Sasuke held it in a reverse grip "Prepare yourself!" he shouted as he charged forward Sharingan eyes spinning wildly.

Gaara made to stand still as was usual when a sudden voice called out to him from within his own mind. "Stop that attack!" Not wasting time to ponder Gaara quickly turned to ground Sasuke was running on into sand slowing him enough to make his attack useless. "I see." He mused seeing the lightning easily pass through the sand that tried to hold the Uchiha down.

Sasuke panted seeing Gaara unscathed by all of his attacks. "There's that…NO!" he hissed at himself. "I promised Kakashi I wouldn't use it. Besides…he knows not to let me close with my lightning anyways." Sasuke glanced around for something he could use and saw nothing. "No choice here I go!" he shouted as he jumped into the air

…and then the Chaos started.


End

Hope everyone like this chapter which took me a very long time to write (Too lazy…) anyways I'm going to end this series soon and you'll see why when it happens.

Anyways there's a poll on my profile about whether or not if I should start a new story or just update current ones please vote I'm not sure when I'll close the poll.

Anyways see you later.